If men were angels, James Madison wrote, no government would be necessary, If angels were to govern men, neither external or internal controls on government would be necessary. (Fourth President [18O9-17].
Our text is quoted from the Psalms 8: 4-5. What is man, that thou are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him? Thou made him lower than the angels, to crown him with glory and worship. As we look at this text from (Hebrews 1:1-4; 2: 5, 12). The author of Hebrews picks the universe as a hierarchy , with God on top, then the angels, humans, animals, and on down the created order to inanimate things. This philosophically has been referred to as the great chain of being. The letter of the Hebrews understands that in the incarnation Jesus Christ moved from a higher to a lower place- thus the discussion about the placement of angels.
In times past God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and all whom through whom God spoke. For Gods revelation of his saving purpose is achieved through his Son now in our last days (final stage). Jesus role as redeemer, and mediator being made the (heir) of all things through his death and exaltation to glory., yet he existed before He appeared as a man. The Messianic Enthronement: for to which did God ever say, this is my son, this day I have begotten you? or again " I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.?
And again when He leads the first born. " Let the angels of God worship him." Of the angels he says:" He makes his angels winds and his ministers a fiery flame.
It seems as though angels have captured the imagination of people everywhere.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation about angels, along with superstition and unscriptural understandings, so we will look at the biblical perspective on angels.
DO ANGELS EXIST!
The word of God-not popular T.V. shows or magazine articles- is our only reliable source for knowing what angels are, and what they do. The Bibles teach that angels were made by God during the six-days of creation. Before creation their was only God. (John 1;1-3). and after creation we are told that on the seventh-day God "rested" from all the work of creating he had done. (Gen. 2:3) The Bible does not say on what day of creation god made angels. But angels are very real.
WHAT DOES THE WORD "ANGEL" MEAN?
The word "angel" comes from the Greek word that means "messenger." Angels are God's messengers. Elsewhere in the Bible angels are described as spirits (Acts 23:9). ( Heb.1:14). The word "angel" is actually a description of what they do
WHAT ARE ANGELS.
Angels are spirits. They are beings who do not have a physical body. Jesus himself said, " a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have" (Luke 24:39). Evil angels too are described as not having "flesh and blood" (Eph. 6:12). In the scriptures, when angels do appear in human form, this is only a momentary appearance for those who need them. Angels are not Gods. They are Gods creation and serve his Holy and perfect. will. The good angels are said to be ministering "spirits." sent by God to serve us (Hebrews 1:14).
ARE ANGELS HUMAN?
Human beings are the crowns of God' creation. only human beings, and no other creature, did God say, " Let us make man in our image" (Gen 1:26). Angels are not human beings, and do not become angels when they die. (when our children are born, we often call them our little angels).
DO HUMAN BEINGS BECOMW ANGELS WHEN THEY DIE?
The Scriptures are clear on this point. Until the last day, the souls of the dead are before the Lord
enjoying peace and rest in His presence, awaiting. the final day when the receive glorified bodies for all eternity see 1Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 5:17; Rev. 7).
ARE ANGELS INTELLENT BEINGS?
The Bible describes angels as having both intelligence and a will. The good angels know and follow the wisdom of God, which He has revealed through Christ to his church. (Eph. 3:10) they gladly serve us, who are the heirs of the salvation Christ has done for us. (Heb.1:14). However angels do not know all things. For instance, they do not know the thoughts of our hearts. (1 Kings 8:39).
HOW POWERFUL ARE ANGELS?
Angels are extremely powerful beings. They are described as mighty "ones." (Psalm 103:20; 2nd Thess.1-7.) The good angels guard and protect God's children (Ps. 91:11-13.)
The power of the angels is unlimited, but is always subject to the will and authority of God. Evil angels are powerful beings. The Bible tell us that they hold captive all unbelievers (Luke11:21,22).(Eph. 2:20.Believers in Christ are able to withstand the temptation of evil angels through the power of God. (Eph. 6:10-17).
WHERE ARE ANGELS?
Angels like God, do not inhabit the same physical dimension. Thus, while there are times when angels will make at a distinct place (ACTS 12:7). They inhabit no physical space.
HOW MANY ANGELS ARE THERE.
The Bible does not give us an exact number, but does clearly teach that there are incredibly large numbers of angels who serve God.. Scripture speaks of: "ten thousand times ten thousand times (Daniel 7:10) Elsewhere Scripture speaks of a" great company of the heavenly host." ( Luke 2:13).
From every indication in the Bible, there are an unimaginably large number of angels, of whom we are totally unaware most of the time. There is a fixed and limited number of angels, never increasing or decreasing. Unlike human beings, angels do not marry and have children (Mark 12;25). They are immortal.
ARE ALL ANGELS THE SAME?
Within the large number of angels there are apparently certain orders or classes of angels. scripture speaks of "cherubim" (Gen. 3:24; Ps. 80-1), "seraphim" (Is. 6:2). " thrones or powers or rulers or authorizes" (Col. 1:16) " Archangel" (1 Thess. 4: 16). Also among evil angels there are ranks and classes of angels (Matt.:25:41). We know Satan is the prince of the evil devils, who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
I know that you risk appearing like some old age goof-ball, if you say you believe in angels, but I do believe in angels, along with all of Judaism. I want you to reconsider your naïve and erroneous belief that angels do exist. If God cares and loves us so strong that even death of our bodies will not end that love, then the "olam habah" is real, and similarly if God did speak to us somehow someway through the Torah. God needed a way to talk to us. For Christians the "Bible" is God's last word to us, It is not reasonable that the Torah is God's last words to us. God needs a way to speak to us, to chastise us, to direct us, to encourage us, and to nudge us. God has given each of us unique gifts, and God needs , from time to time, to show us how to use those gifts to help His creation. One of the ways God does this is by sending angels into our lives.to ask us the great short questions. Abraham Lincoln referred to " the better angels of our nature," and he was right. When we are about to lose our way it seems to me absolutely obvious and unarguably true that God will send someone into the fields of our lives to ask us, "What are you looking for?" If their is such a God, and there is, then there are angels and their is life after death where we will meet all of them and you can slap your foreheads, in wonder and say: "shees" " It was all true." That is when you will know, about all the things you heard over your Christian lifetime and doubted! Indeed rabbinic legends teach that the [Messiah] will appear on earth as a beggar waiting for some act of kindness by a stranger before announcing himself. If you can learn to see street bums as potential messiahs, you can learn to see angels when they meet you in the fields of life. When God takes your breath away, and your begins its glorious eternal life in the world to come, when the two angels with the fiery swords guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden, the portal through which all souls must pass., say to your soul, " you can go right in," and when you arrive safely in the place where there are no questions only answers.
No pain, only love, All the angels that appeared in your life will welcome you, and say: " Let me tell you everything. as they lead you into the pastures beside the still waters, where all the flocks have come home. to rest and where all brothers and sisters and parents and children have found each other at last. They will explain the place you are looking for, ever since the day you realized he world is full of angels. ma t' vakesh." What are you looking for?"
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Thou art loosed. Luke 13:10-17
At Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural shortly before his assassination in 1865, he spoke about both parties deprecated war, and yet war came. He continued, "Neither party expected the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Each looked for easier triumph. Both read the same bible, and prayed to the same God; each invokes his aid against the other."
and with that, Lincoln let his own feelings show through as he spoke of how strange it was," that any men should dare to ask a just
God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces. Ultimately, the black slaves were set free. Theoretically, it became legal as early as the first day of the year, 1863, in what has become to be known as the Emancipation Proclamation. "The word spread," the words of one historian, "From Capitol hill out across the city, down in the valleys and fields of Virginia and the CROLINAS AND EVEN INTO THE PLANTATIONS OF GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI and Alabama. 'Slavery legally Abolished!' read the headlines, and yet something amazing took place. The greater majority of the slaves in the south went on living as though they were not emancipated. That continued throughout the reconstructed period."
The Negro remained locked in a caste system of 'race etiquette' as rigid as any had known in formal bondage, and that every slave could repeat, with equal validity, what an Alabama slave had mumbled when asked what he thought of the great Emancipator whose proclamation had gone into effect. 'I don't know nothin' 'bout Abraham Lincoln cep they say he sot us free. And I don't know nothin' 'bout that neither.
How tragic. A war being fought. A document had been singed. Slaves were legally set free. The word emancipated. And yet most continued to live out their years, and many of their children some of their years, in fear, saying "I don't know nothin 'bout that neither.' In a context of freedom, slaves chose to remain slaves, though they were legally freed. Even though emancipated, they kept serving the same master throughout their lives.
Sadly, many believers in this world are like the slaves in Civil war times. All the official documents have been signed, all the legal matter have been taken care of. God has accepted the "emancipation proclamation" made by Jesus on Calvary, when he said, " It is finished" In Christ we have been set free forever! We are no longer in bondage to our sins, our past, our guilt, or anything else that we might name. Yet, we still live in bondage because we will not except the freedom available to us in Jesus. This passage is all about how Jesus can set us free. as we watch him deliver this women from the bondage of eighteen years of sickness, we get a picture of what he can do for us, if we will come to him. Let's spend a few minutes in this passage together as we share some thoughts with you on the subject, " Thou art Loosed". Perhaps today will be the day when you identify that which binds you and you get free from it forever! One Sabbath as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, He saw a seriously handicapped women who had been bent doubled for eighteen years and was unable to straighten herself up. Calling her over to him Jesus said," women, you are healed of your sickness!" He touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised and thanked God! (V.10.11,12).
THIS WAS A WOMEN WHO WAS IN SEVERE physical PAIN. Her body was bent double at the waist. Surely, every day was a struggle for her. She found herself in a physical condition that prevented her from looking up. She could not, by her own power, overcome her condition
Sadly, many have found themselves in a spiritual state in which they cannot look up either! Totally unable to see past the torment they are experiencing in their lives. ( Note: if you are the lord's, even your afflictions are part of his plan for your life, Rom. 8:28).
She was attacked spiritually for eighteen years ( verse 16) lets us know that this women was an Israelite and a believer. Yet she is under attack of the devil! Satan has bound her and has caused her body to be broken by affliction. ( Note: Even believers "saved people" can be attacked by the devil). Now we need to understand that no saint of God can be demon possessed! Jesus did not cast out any demons here. He merely spoke to her condition. She was not demon possessed, she was demon oppressed! Most of the time, our illnesses are just that which is part and parcel of the human experience. Let's not blame every cold on the devil. The point here is that believers can come under attacked of the enemy. He will seek for ways to bind our lives and to hinder us from being all that Gods wants us to be. What has you bound this morning? Sin? Bitterness/ Temptation? Hatred? Unforgiveness? GUILT? ADDICTION? Lust? envy? Greed? Religion? Fear? Worry? Finances? The list goes on forever, but the fact is, anything and everything, when the good things of life will be used by the enemy to bind, hinder and devastate our lives. ( if we allow him to!) No doubt, she was affected socially because of her condition, she was considered a Freak. She was an oddity to be laughed at and imitated by children. She was an outcast. and probably unwanted, unloved. She was the kind of person you would avoid on the street. She was a social pariah. Like her if you are afflicted in any way, then you know the pain of rejection! Beware that you do not let your rejections change to bitterness! The enemy will use that to trap you and bind you, ( if he is allowed to!) (NOTE: TO ME, she is one of the most powerful pictures of faith and faithfulness in the New Testament. She has been in this condition for 18 years! If she has been to the synagogue every Sabbath for those 18 years, she has attended some 1,000 meetings there She has been sick for 18 years She has not been healed, still she believes in God! She prays, but even when it seems like God isn't going to answer, she remains faithful. she comes to the services, in spite of the fact no one would miss her if she didn't. She had suffered for years while God only watched.
Still she remained faithful! What a rebuke she is to the mentality that abounds to day! If we have a headache, we run to the medicine bottle and knock ourselves out. She was bent double, yet she came to the house of God. She persisted in her faith. We allow the slightest bump in the road of life to derail us and cause us to want to throw in the towel, she persisted in her faith, even when life didn't go her way, because she loved the Lord our God! She stayed faithful because she knew that God was worthy of her worship. She loved him and would continue in spite of her obstacles she faced. This women wasn't the only one who came to the synagogue to worship. Jesus Christ was in attendance that day and he came to worship as well. The Bible says, Verse 12, " he saw her" Jesus went to the house of God to worship. He knew that genuine worship involved more than merely sitting in ones place. Worship was more than an experience of the head. It was an experience of the heart that found reaction in His hands. You see, too many sit in a pew shift their brain to neutral and glide through the service, neither moving or being moved by what they experience. Genuine worship occurs when our belief moves from our head, down to our hearts and out through our hands, James 1:27. Time spent in church that doesn't move your heart and motivate your hands is not worship. ( it is just time spent in church).
When Jesus saw the women, she received a compassionate word. he called her to him. She struggle her way to him. He spoke to her. He called her 'WOMEN." WHAT A WORD OF COMPASSION! Here was a women whose beauty had long gone left her, yet Jesus saw her as women and loved her as she was. He doesn't see us in light of our past, He sees what we have become through his grace. Then he spoke the words that must have thrilled her soul, "Thou art loosed from thine infirmity. What she tried and failed to do, Jesus did with a word! Jesus knows our burdens and emotional demons that encumber us, but, if you will come to him at His call (Matt. 11:28) and you will hear his words that will set you free.
Only by letting go can you let God carry out His will in your life.
.
and with that, Lincoln let his own feelings show through as he spoke of how strange it was," that any men should dare to ask a just
God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces. Ultimately, the black slaves were set free. Theoretically, it became legal as early as the first day of the year, 1863, in what has become to be known as the Emancipation Proclamation. "The word spread," the words of one historian, "From Capitol hill out across the city, down in the valleys and fields of Virginia and the CROLINAS AND EVEN INTO THE PLANTATIONS OF GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI and Alabama. 'Slavery legally Abolished!' read the headlines, and yet something amazing took place. The greater majority of the slaves in the south went on living as though they were not emancipated. That continued throughout the reconstructed period."
The Negro remained locked in a caste system of 'race etiquette' as rigid as any had known in formal bondage, and that every slave could repeat, with equal validity, what an Alabama slave had mumbled when asked what he thought of the great Emancipator whose proclamation had gone into effect. 'I don't know nothin' 'bout Abraham Lincoln cep they say he sot us free. And I don't know nothin' 'bout that neither.
How tragic. A war being fought. A document had been singed. Slaves were legally set free. The word emancipated. And yet most continued to live out their years, and many of their children some of their years, in fear, saying "I don't know nothin 'bout that neither.' In a context of freedom, slaves chose to remain slaves, though they were legally freed. Even though emancipated, they kept serving the same master throughout their lives.
Sadly, many believers in this world are like the slaves in Civil war times. All the official documents have been signed, all the legal matter have been taken care of. God has accepted the "emancipation proclamation" made by Jesus on Calvary, when he said, " It is finished" In Christ we have been set free forever! We are no longer in bondage to our sins, our past, our guilt, or anything else that we might name. Yet, we still live in bondage because we will not except the freedom available to us in Jesus. This passage is all about how Jesus can set us free. as we watch him deliver this women from the bondage of eighteen years of sickness, we get a picture of what he can do for us, if we will come to him. Let's spend a few minutes in this passage together as we share some thoughts with you on the subject, " Thou art Loosed". Perhaps today will be the day when you identify that which binds you and you get free from it forever! One Sabbath as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, He saw a seriously handicapped women who had been bent doubled for eighteen years and was unable to straighten herself up. Calling her over to him Jesus said," women, you are healed of your sickness!" He touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised and thanked God! (V.10.11,12).
THIS WAS A WOMEN WHO WAS IN SEVERE physical PAIN. Her body was bent double at the waist. Surely, every day was a struggle for her. She found herself in a physical condition that prevented her from looking up. She could not, by her own power, overcome her condition
Sadly, many have found themselves in a spiritual state in which they cannot look up either! Totally unable to see past the torment they are experiencing in their lives. ( Note: if you are the lord's, even your afflictions are part of his plan for your life, Rom. 8:28).
She was attacked spiritually for eighteen years ( verse 16) lets us know that this women was an Israelite and a believer. Yet she is under attack of the devil! Satan has bound her and has caused her body to be broken by affliction. ( Note: Even believers "saved people" can be attacked by the devil). Now we need to understand that no saint of God can be demon possessed! Jesus did not cast out any demons here. He merely spoke to her condition. She was not demon possessed, she was demon oppressed! Most of the time, our illnesses are just that which is part and parcel of the human experience. Let's not blame every cold on the devil. The point here is that believers can come under attacked of the enemy. He will seek for ways to bind our lives and to hinder us from being all that Gods wants us to be. What has you bound this morning? Sin? Bitterness/ Temptation? Hatred? Unforgiveness? GUILT? ADDICTION? Lust? envy? Greed? Religion? Fear? Worry? Finances? The list goes on forever, but the fact is, anything and everything, when the good things of life will be used by the enemy to bind, hinder and devastate our lives. ( if we allow him to!) No doubt, she was affected socially because of her condition, she was considered a Freak. She was an oddity to be laughed at and imitated by children. She was an outcast. and probably unwanted, unloved. She was the kind of person you would avoid on the street. She was a social pariah. Like her if you are afflicted in any way, then you know the pain of rejection! Beware that you do not let your rejections change to bitterness! The enemy will use that to trap you and bind you, ( if he is allowed to!) (NOTE: TO ME, she is one of the most powerful pictures of faith and faithfulness in the New Testament. She has been in this condition for 18 years! If she has been to the synagogue every Sabbath for those 18 years, she has attended some 1,000 meetings there She has been sick for 18 years She has not been healed, still she believes in God! She prays, but even when it seems like God isn't going to answer, she remains faithful. she comes to the services, in spite of the fact no one would miss her if she didn't. She had suffered for years while God only watched.
Still she remained faithful! What a rebuke she is to the mentality that abounds to day! If we have a headache, we run to the medicine bottle and knock ourselves out. She was bent double, yet she came to the house of God. She persisted in her faith. We allow the slightest bump in the road of life to derail us and cause us to want to throw in the towel, she persisted in her faith, even when life didn't go her way, because she loved the Lord our God! She stayed faithful because she knew that God was worthy of her worship. She loved him and would continue in spite of her obstacles she faced. This women wasn't the only one who came to the synagogue to worship. Jesus Christ was in attendance that day and he came to worship as well. The Bible says, Verse 12, " he saw her" Jesus went to the house of God to worship. He knew that genuine worship involved more than merely sitting in ones place. Worship was more than an experience of the head. It was an experience of the heart that found reaction in His hands. You see, too many sit in a pew shift their brain to neutral and glide through the service, neither moving or being moved by what they experience. Genuine worship occurs when our belief moves from our head, down to our hearts and out through our hands, James 1:27. Time spent in church that doesn't move your heart and motivate your hands is not worship. ( it is just time spent in church).
When Jesus saw the women, she received a compassionate word. he called her to him. She struggle her way to him. He spoke to her. He called her 'WOMEN." WHAT A WORD OF COMPASSION! Here was a women whose beauty had long gone left her, yet Jesus saw her as women and loved her as she was. He doesn't see us in light of our past, He sees what we have become through his grace. Then he spoke the words that must have thrilled her soul, "Thou art loosed from thine infirmity. What she tried and failed to do, Jesus did with a word! Jesus knows our burdens and emotional demons that encumber us, but, if you will come to him at His call (Matt. 11:28) and you will hear his words that will set you free.
Only by letting go can you let God carry out His will in your life.
.
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Looking for Purity [Mark 7: 1-8,14,5,21-23].
In the liturgy, we pray to God, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. We ask God to bring to fruition the word of truth sown in our hearts by Christ, so that we will live in the law of love. It is this liberating law that judges all other laws of human origin. It is the gracious command that is sealed with Christ's blood. In this supper Christ forgives us and strengthens us to be communal witnesses to His love.
That is why Mark in his reading speaks of pure and impurity, depicting Jesus as challenging traditional ways in which religious people determine what is pure or impure for Jesus. Jesus is challenging traditional ways in which religious practices cannot become a substitute for godly words or deeds that spring from a faithful heart. This was another tough saying for Jesus to put across to the Israelites, who being raised in the O.T,knew that they believed in the law as a divine gift that provided a guideline for living out the covenant, according to Moses. The people are to obey the law and are neither to add or subtract from it. (To use an analogy:) Back in the 50's I spent time working in Vanderwaters garage. When someone brought in a dead battery, and to bring it up to snuff, to be reused, we would empty out the old acid refill the reservoir with distilled water, because it was clear of contaminates. Put it on the charger, and when done, the customer was on his way. Written and unwritten purity laws express strong beliefs of what we allow to touch or enter us. We recognize our own laws and we recoil at eating certain creatures such as ; " garden snails"- are they escargots? One groups delicacies are another abominations. Many great daily practices marked the Israelites as God's own and set them part from all other nations. Laws of ritual purity thus kept the corporate body one and whole.
Instead the early church was a mixed bag, bringing Jews and Gentiles "sinners" who broke bread with unwashed hands and vessels.
Jesus had resolve that truth shall triumph over error. Concerned that his church shall stand in truth, and recognizing the source of error, Jesus Christ is resolved that the truth shall triumph. He calls upon the church which has permitted grievous error to be taught unchecked to repent and to gain victory over false-hood.He then indicates both the way of conquest and its reward. The way of conquest is by His word. The only weapon which can slay the forces of error is Christ's word. As long as his creation has taken to the creator, both in body and soul, their has been a faction that has seemed to interpret God's word differently, since the time of the tower of babel. When God scattered the people and confused there language, his creation has never agreed on the meaning of his word. The Gospel message in Mark, explains it quite well.
The Pharisees, whose doctrine included predestination, believed in the spirit life., laid much stress on the immortality of the soul. Being people of the law they believed in the final reward for good works and that the souls of the wicked were detained forever under the earth, while those of the virtuous rose again and even migrated into other bodies, ( Josephus, ANTIQ. 18:1,3;) bitterly opposed Jesus and his teachings. Then the Pharisees and certain scribes, which came from Jerusalem, when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all Jews, except they was their hands often, eat not, holding the traditions of the elders. When they come from the market, unless they washed they eat not, and because of tradition they confront Jesus about his disciples eating without first washing their hands. Then the Pharisee's and scribes and the other sect tried to discredit Jesus and his message. They asked him, why his disciples walked in the way of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? It was as a deliberate, unwarranted faultfinding on there part.
Jesus had just returned to Capernaum for a few days after the exciting and wearing experiences of a strenuous week. Upon his return he finds a company of his enemies assembled, because of his popularity during the Last few days and the hostility of the Jewish religious leaders, is brought out very strongly. Since Jesus first display of casting out the devils, and the sharp tonque of the Galilee Rabbi. The reason for the confrontation with Jesus was not to hear the word of life, but to provoke disputes, and their opportunity came vey soon, when they saw Jesus disciples eat with common , unwashed hands. This was their cue for an attack on Jesus. This was not a question of sanitation, but one which they considered affecting the standing of a believing Jew in the sight of God. It was the custom of the Pharisees and all strict Jews to observe the tradition of the elders.
So Christ turns directly to the people; He calls the crowd to him and addresses them all on the topic; He asks them to listen intently that they may understand. There is nothing outside a person which may touch him or enter into him that can make him unclean, that will make him unfit to serve the Lord and taking part in his service. Christian worship and service is in no way dependent upon the outward appearance or habits of a person., whether he wears a fine suit, or overalls, whether he washes his hands before meals or not. They don't concern worship, or the religion of man. The things which come forth from man, they are apt to make him unclean,, they may cause the relation between him and his God to be severed. It is important point that the Lord makes, and He wanted to impress it upon his hearers. Jesus had to explain this hew teaching to his disciples. That whatsoever thing that enters from without the body, it cannot defile him; because it enters not into the heart, but goes into the belly, and then the bowels, purging all meats, then Jesus says that which comes out of the man, that defiles the man, is his inner thoughts which proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries,, fornications,, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, blasphemy, an evil eye, pride foolishness. All these things come out of man. But far worse and of greater importance is spiritual purity. the seed, the germ of all these sins lies in the heart of every man, by nature, only waiting the occasion when it will come forth. and work havoc. A Christian needs to keep watch over his heart unceasingly, lest any of these evil seeds sprout and grow beyond control. We are reminded about staying in the word of Christ for our strength allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us to keep us safe From the evil that the devil plans for us, that would bring destruction, and not eternal life.
That is why Mark in his reading speaks of pure and impurity, depicting Jesus as challenging traditional ways in which religious people determine what is pure or impure for Jesus. Jesus is challenging traditional ways in which religious practices cannot become a substitute for godly words or deeds that spring from a faithful heart. This was another tough saying for Jesus to put across to the Israelites, who being raised in the O.T,knew that they believed in the law as a divine gift that provided a guideline for living out the covenant, according to Moses. The people are to obey the law and are neither to add or subtract from it. (To use an analogy:) Back in the 50's I spent time working in Vanderwaters garage. When someone brought in a dead battery, and to bring it up to snuff, to be reused, we would empty out the old acid refill the reservoir with distilled water, because it was clear of contaminates. Put it on the charger, and when done, the customer was on his way. Written and unwritten purity laws express strong beliefs of what we allow to touch or enter us. We recognize our own laws and we recoil at eating certain creatures such as ; " garden snails"- are they escargots? One groups delicacies are another abominations. Many great daily practices marked the Israelites as God's own and set them part from all other nations. Laws of ritual purity thus kept the corporate body one and whole.
Instead the early church was a mixed bag, bringing Jews and Gentiles "sinners" who broke bread with unwashed hands and vessels.
Jesus had resolve that truth shall triumph over error. Concerned that his church shall stand in truth, and recognizing the source of error, Jesus Christ is resolved that the truth shall triumph. He calls upon the church which has permitted grievous error to be taught unchecked to repent and to gain victory over false-hood.He then indicates both the way of conquest and its reward. The way of conquest is by His word. The only weapon which can slay the forces of error is Christ's word. As long as his creation has taken to the creator, both in body and soul, their has been a faction that has seemed to interpret God's word differently, since the time of the tower of babel. When God scattered the people and confused there language, his creation has never agreed on the meaning of his word. The Gospel message in Mark, explains it quite well.
The Pharisees, whose doctrine included predestination, believed in the spirit life., laid much stress on the immortality of the soul. Being people of the law they believed in the final reward for good works and that the souls of the wicked were detained forever under the earth, while those of the virtuous rose again and even migrated into other bodies, ( Josephus, ANTIQ. 18:1,3;) bitterly opposed Jesus and his teachings. Then the Pharisees and certain scribes, which came from Jerusalem, when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all Jews, except they was their hands often, eat not, holding the traditions of the elders. When they come from the market, unless they washed they eat not, and because of tradition they confront Jesus about his disciples eating without first washing their hands. Then the Pharisee's and scribes and the other sect tried to discredit Jesus and his message. They asked him, why his disciples walked in the way of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? It was as a deliberate, unwarranted faultfinding on there part.
Jesus had just returned to Capernaum for a few days after the exciting and wearing experiences of a strenuous week. Upon his return he finds a company of his enemies assembled, because of his popularity during the Last few days and the hostility of the Jewish religious leaders, is brought out very strongly. Since Jesus first display of casting out the devils, and the sharp tonque of the Galilee Rabbi. The reason for the confrontation with Jesus was not to hear the word of life, but to provoke disputes, and their opportunity came vey soon, when they saw Jesus disciples eat with common , unwashed hands. This was their cue for an attack on Jesus. This was not a question of sanitation, but one which they considered affecting the standing of a believing Jew in the sight of God. It was the custom of the Pharisees and all strict Jews to observe the tradition of the elders.
So Christ turns directly to the people; He calls the crowd to him and addresses them all on the topic; He asks them to listen intently that they may understand. There is nothing outside a person which may touch him or enter into him that can make him unclean, that will make him unfit to serve the Lord and taking part in his service. Christian worship and service is in no way dependent upon the outward appearance or habits of a person., whether he wears a fine suit, or overalls, whether he washes his hands before meals or not. They don't concern worship, or the religion of man. The things which come forth from man, they are apt to make him unclean,, they may cause the relation between him and his God to be severed. It is important point that the Lord makes, and He wanted to impress it upon his hearers. Jesus had to explain this hew teaching to his disciples. That whatsoever thing that enters from without the body, it cannot defile him; because it enters not into the heart, but goes into the belly, and then the bowels, purging all meats, then Jesus says that which comes out of the man, that defiles the man, is his inner thoughts which proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries,, fornications,, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, blasphemy, an evil eye, pride foolishness. All these things come out of man. But far worse and of greater importance is spiritual purity. the seed, the germ of all these sins lies in the heart of every man, by nature, only waiting the occasion when it will come forth. and work havoc. A Christian needs to keep watch over his heart unceasingly, lest any of these evil seeds sprout and grow beyond control. We are reminded about staying in the word of Christ for our strength allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us to keep us safe From the evil that the devil plans for us, that would bring destruction, and not eternal life.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Preoccpied with the Father. [praying]
As we are travelling with Christ we discover how perfect He is, how merciful, how loving, how forgiving but also how strong, how attractive, and how very modern.If we follow him through the Gospels we come to learn something of His mind. What is he thinking about? What is His great preoccupation? What has He come to earth for? We cannot answer questions like these unless we think about his Father. He is preoccupied with his Father. No one knows the Father but the the Son.
He is conscience of his Father's goodness, greatness, power, love. He wants to lead men to the Father. This is his preoccupation at every moment. That is why he prays. We find him praying at his baptism, spending forty days of prayer and fasting in the desert, retiring by the Jordan before his missionary work begins, going out very early in the morning to lonely places to pray, praying all night through before choosing his Apostles and in the sermon of the mount, giving precious instruction about prayer. He prays before and during many of his miracles. He tells the father of a poor little lunatic that the devil is not cast out but by prayer and fasting. He himself prays, " I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and reveal them to babes; Thank you four your gracious will" ( Matt. 11,25). When Martha complains Mary is praying too much she is gently rebuked. During and praying after his last supper we find Jesus praying. On the Cross Jesus continues to pray. We discover how he is preoccupied with his father.
Even afterwards at Emmaus. Jesus prayer life demonstrates how much he is preoccupied with his Father's will.
As we witness his sufferings, he is prepared even to accept it and accept it with joy. He knew from the first purpose of his coming upon earth to suffer. He never forgets his suffering. With it always before him he keeps on keeping on. The thought of his suffering never
takes away his deep peace and joy. He knows, this always pleases the father.
The more we study Christ, his miracles, his example, his teaching, the more we realize his claim to be God. As we immerse ourselves in the gospels, we discover Christ claiming to be God. In the Sermon on the Mount he refers to the commands of God in the former times but he immediately claims to be as great a law giver himself: " You have heard it said to men of old,' you shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable for judgment...But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment... you have heard that it said, "you shall not commit adultery," But Jesus says to you everyone who looks at a women lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt,5:21-28). (John 4,26). At Jacobs well we hear Christ telling the women of Samaria that he is the messiah: I who speak to you are he. Towards the end of his life we listen to his description of the last Judgment and his claim to be the judge of all men. " When the son of man comes in all his glory and all angels with him, and then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as shepherds, separate sheep from the goats (Matt.25, 31-46). We have celebrated in June Pentecost. For Christians, this is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit on followers of Jesus. It also marks the beginning of what we call the church... the church's birthday. The work "Pentecost means "fifty.
It was originally The Jewish "Festival of Weeks." (or " Shavuot ") which came seven weeks after the end of Passover. It commemorated the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai, and also the celebration of the "first fruits" of the harvest.. ( see Leviticus 23:16 and Exodus 23:16). So this was another time when many would have gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration. Jesus was crucified at the time of the Passover, and ascended 40 days later. Ten days after that was Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability." ( Acts 2; 1-4).
The languages that were spoken by these first Christians were intelligible, so that those who had gathered for the festival from many lands could understand the message of the wonders of God. (Acts 2:11) in their own language. Then Peter explained what had happened in the light of the Prophecy of Joel, where God promised to pour out His Spirit on all flesh and as a result would exercise divine power. (Joel 2:28-32) Peter talked about the death and resurrection of Jesus (always central to Apostolic preaching) and that the result of the resurrection was, quoting the Psalmist, David, "You have made known to me the paths of life: you fill me with joy in your presence. (Acts 2:28; Psalm 16:11).
There were three phenomena that marked Pentecost. First there was the sound of the roaring wind. Wind can't be seen, but we can see it's effects. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for wind "ruach is the same as for the word for spirit. The Holy Spirit like the wind, is a mighty power, but we do not see the spirit, just the effects. Secondly, there were tongues of fire. Through out scripture, fire symbolizes God's Holy presence. God came to Moses in a burning bush., and led the people of Israel at night by a pillar of fire. John the Baptizer said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Fire is also pictured as that which purifies. The fire on Pentecost appeared in the form of tongues to symbolize God's power through the proclamation of His word. The Apostle Paul said, the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ( Romans 1:16).
So what does Pentecost mean to us today? Simply, it is a reminder that God pours out the Spirit upon all who put their faith in Jesus Christ and become his disciples. (If you read it, the Bible tells us much about what the Spirit can do in our lives. It is through the Holy Spirit that we confess Jesus as Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3); we are empowered to serve God with super natural power ( 1Corinthians
12:4-11); and we are bound together as the body of Christ. ( 1Corinthians 12: 12-130. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26) and even intercedes for us with God the Father. (8:27). The Spirit guides us ( Galatians 5:25) to live with the characteristics of Jesus ( Galatians 5: 22-23).
Pentecost also reminds us of the important role the Holy Spirit plays in the Church. Not only was this the "birthday" of the Church, but the Holy Spirit was and is the power behind the church and all that the Apostles did (Acts 1:8). In the book of Acts, we see that the early followers spent a good deal of time between the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit in prayer. "[ The disciples] all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14). If we want the Holy Spirit to fill our church we must pray! When we receive God's power through the Spirit, we are to be His witnesses , and work diligently to serve the Lord.
He is conscience of his Father's goodness, greatness, power, love. He wants to lead men to the Father. This is his preoccupation at every moment. That is why he prays. We find him praying at his baptism, spending forty days of prayer and fasting in the desert, retiring by the Jordan before his missionary work begins, going out very early in the morning to lonely places to pray, praying all night through before choosing his Apostles and in the sermon of the mount, giving precious instruction about prayer. He prays before and during many of his miracles. He tells the father of a poor little lunatic that the devil is not cast out but by prayer and fasting. He himself prays, " I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and reveal them to babes; Thank you four your gracious will" ( Matt. 11,25). When Martha complains Mary is praying too much she is gently rebuked. During and praying after his last supper we find Jesus praying. On the Cross Jesus continues to pray. We discover how he is preoccupied with his father.
Even afterwards at Emmaus. Jesus prayer life demonstrates how much he is preoccupied with his Father's will.
As we witness his sufferings, he is prepared even to accept it and accept it with joy. He knew from the first purpose of his coming upon earth to suffer. He never forgets his suffering. With it always before him he keeps on keeping on. The thought of his suffering never
takes away his deep peace and joy. He knows, this always pleases the father.
The more we study Christ, his miracles, his example, his teaching, the more we realize his claim to be God. As we immerse ourselves in the gospels, we discover Christ claiming to be God. In the Sermon on the Mount he refers to the commands of God in the former times but he immediately claims to be as great a law giver himself: " You have heard it said to men of old,' you shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable for judgment...But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment... you have heard that it said, "you shall not commit adultery," But Jesus says to you everyone who looks at a women lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt,5:21-28). (John 4,26). At Jacobs well we hear Christ telling the women of Samaria that he is the messiah: I who speak to you are he. Towards the end of his life we listen to his description of the last Judgment and his claim to be the judge of all men. " When the son of man comes in all his glory and all angels with him, and then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as shepherds, separate sheep from the goats (Matt.25, 31-46). We have celebrated in June Pentecost. For Christians, this is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit on followers of Jesus. It also marks the beginning of what we call the church... the church's birthday. The work "Pentecost means "fifty.
It was originally The Jewish "Festival of Weeks." (or " Shavuot ") which came seven weeks after the end of Passover. It commemorated the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai, and also the celebration of the "first fruits" of the harvest.. ( see Leviticus 23:16 and Exodus 23:16). So this was another time when many would have gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration. Jesus was crucified at the time of the Passover, and ascended 40 days later. Ten days after that was Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability." ( Acts 2; 1-4).
The languages that were spoken by these first Christians were intelligible, so that those who had gathered for the festival from many lands could understand the message of the wonders of God. (Acts 2:11) in their own language. Then Peter explained what had happened in the light of the Prophecy of Joel, where God promised to pour out His Spirit on all flesh and as a result would exercise divine power. (Joel 2:28-32) Peter talked about the death and resurrection of Jesus (always central to Apostolic preaching) and that the result of the resurrection was, quoting the Psalmist, David, "You have made known to me the paths of life: you fill me with joy in your presence. (Acts 2:28; Psalm 16:11).
There were three phenomena that marked Pentecost. First there was the sound of the roaring wind. Wind can't be seen, but we can see it's effects. In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for wind "ruach is the same as for the word for spirit. The Holy Spirit like the wind, is a mighty power, but we do not see the spirit, just the effects. Secondly, there were tongues of fire. Through out scripture, fire symbolizes God's Holy presence. God came to Moses in a burning bush., and led the people of Israel at night by a pillar of fire. John the Baptizer said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Fire is also pictured as that which purifies. The fire on Pentecost appeared in the form of tongues to symbolize God's power through the proclamation of His word. The Apostle Paul said, the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ( Romans 1:16).
So what does Pentecost mean to us today? Simply, it is a reminder that God pours out the Spirit upon all who put their faith in Jesus Christ and become his disciples. (If you read it, the Bible tells us much about what the Spirit can do in our lives. It is through the Holy Spirit that we confess Jesus as Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:3); we are empowered to serve God with super natural power ( 1Corinthians
12:4-11); and we are bound together as the body of Christ. ( 1Corinthians 12: 12-130. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26) and even intercedes for us with God the Father. (8:27). The Spirit guides us ( Galatians 5:25) to live with the characteristics of Jesus ( Galatians 5: 22-23).
Pentecost also reminds us of the important role the Holy Spirit plays in the Church. Not only was this the "birthday" of the Church, but the Holy Spirit was and is the power behind the church and all that the Apostles did (Acts 1:8). In the book of Acts, we see that the early followers spent a good deal of time between the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit in prayer. "[ The disciples] all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14). If we want the Holy Spirit to fill our church we must pray! When we receive God's power through the Spirit, we are to be His witnesses , and work diligently to serve the Lord.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
"Revelation of Jesus Christ" [Rev1:1]
" I saw... in the midst of the lampstands one like the son of man" Rev 1: 12, 13.
The average Christian fights shy of the " Book of Revelation." It seems to him well nigh incomprehensible. He is perhaps skeptical of some fanciful interpretations he has heard, and he cannot easily accustom himself to the book's bizarre imagery. to start reading the revelation is to step into a strange, un-familiar world of angels and demons, of lambs, lions, horses, and dragons. seal are broken, trumpets blown and the contents of seven bowls poured over the earth. Two particularly malicious bests appear, one emerging out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, and the other rising from the earth with a lamb's horns and a dragons voice. Their is thunder, lighting, hail fire smoke and blood. the whole book appears at first sight to contain a chaotic profusion of weird and mysterious visions.
But we can't leave the matter there. The book claims to be a divine revelation given by god to His servants (1:10). It promises at its beginning a special blessing to him who read it aloud in church and to those who listen (1:3), and it adds at the end a solemn warning to anyone who dares to tamper with its message, either by addition or by subtraction (22:18-19. Besides, this last book of the Bible has been cherished by Christ's church in every generation and has brought challenge and its comfort to thousands of Christian believers. We should therefore be foolish to neglect it. I am concerned here with the book's first three chapters and in particular with the second and third chapters which contain seven letters addressed by the ascended Christ to seven Asian churches. Chapter one is the introductory to the whole book, Indeed, some important clues to a right interpretation of the book are given us in the very first verse: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave them to show to His servants what soon must take place; and he made it known by sending His angel to His servant John. The first word in the Greek sentence is " apocalupsis," which (like its Latin equivalent, revelation) means an "unveiling". The whole book is a revelation, an unveiling by God's hand of truth's which otherwise would have remained hidden.
It would be helpful to begin with the simple observation that the revelation was made to the church. The "apocalypse" or "revelation" was given by God to his servants. They were its recipients. It was granted for their benefit. this being so, it is absurd to give up trying to understand it. We must persevere. Ostensibly the revelation which John was given and instructed to write in a book was intended for the seven churches that are in Asia (v. 4). A little later he names them . He is to send the book to Ephesus and to Smyrna, Pergamum and to Thyatira, Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea ( v.11). By " Asia" then is not the whole continent, nor even what we sometimes call "Asia" Minor, but the Roman Province of Asia which was located on the western seaboard of what we now know as turkey. The seven cities mentioned form an irregular circle, and are listed in the order in which a messenger might visit them if they were a mailman to deliver a letters.
Sailing from the Island of Patmos, to which John had been banished, he would arrive at Ephesus. He would then travel north to Smyrna and Pergamum, south-east to Thyatira Sardis and Philadelphia, and finish his journey at Laodicea. He would need only to keep to what professor William Ramsay called 'the great circular road that bound together the most populous, wealthy and influential part of the province, the west-central region. The historical context for the "Book of Revelation, however, cannot possibly be thought to exhaust its significance. Just as the letters of Paul to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians convey the word of God to us as well to them in London and New York and Cairo as well as Corinth and Thessalonica, so Christ's letters through John to the first century Christians communities of Asia have permanent value and a universal message. Get on board, before you die. Commentators have not failed to notice that the Asian churches numbered seven, a number indicating perfection and completeness in a book whose numerals are nearly always symbolical. The seven churches of Asia, though historical, represent the local churches of all ages and of all lands. The Christian society in the Roman province of Asia at that time was hard pressed. It is probable that the Revelation reflects the situation during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, who carried to its second stage the persecution of Christians begun twenty-five years previously by Nero. Nero's persecutions had been sporadic; Domitian's seem to have been more systematic, the effects of Nero's antagonism were felt in Rome only, while under Domitian, who was hungry for divine honors. Christians who worshipped the Lord Christ were being invited to worship Caesar. The hearts of Christians were filled with alarm. Could the Church survive the storm which seemed to be on the point of breaking. His empire is wider than the sway of Rome. Christ dominion is universal. The description of the lord's achievements past and future. He not only loves us; He not only freed us from our sins by His blood; and made His people a kingdom Just as God entered into a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and made them His people over whom He ruled. So Christ by his death has ratified a new covenant and inaugurated a new kingdom. The Christian Church is the new theocracy. Christ reigns over us. We are His Kingdom. Moreover, as in Old Israel, so in the new, the members of God's kingdom are "priests" offering him spiritual sacrifice of our worship. Let Christians lift up their heads! The day of redemption is drawing near. Such is the opening revelation of Jesus Christ in his titles and His deeds. It is the foretaste of the richer disclosures which follows.
John goes on to on to write how on a certain Sunday during his exile he was granted an ecstatic vision of Jesus. He describes the details of what he saw, and each part is meaningful. At the same time, it is important to remember that the imagery he uses is intended to be symbolical rather than pictorial. The various elements in the vision are significant symbols to be interpreted, rather then actual features to be imagined. For example, if John saw Jesus with a sharp two-edged sword issuing from His mouth, we are not so much to visualize this literally as to remember that the words speak are as a sharp and piercing as a sword. John's attention was drawn to the presence of Jesus by a loud voice behind him. Turning around, he saw seven golden lampstands and in the middle of them one like the son of man (vv. 12,13). that is to say, he saw a human figure, and yet the person he saw was more then a mere man. He was glorious and sublime. He was like the son of man in Daniels vision. he was in fact he glorified "man Christ Jesus". John at once notice his clothes, for He was invested with a long robe and a golden girdle of a priest or king or judge. His appearance was not only distinguished but venerable and holy for His hair was as white as wool or snow. His scrutiny was intense as His eyes flashed with the fire of judgement, and His feet were as strong as burnished
brass. His voice thundered like the breakers which dashed themselves against the rocky coast of Patmos., and His face was as radiant as the sun (vv. 13-15). The purpose of this vision was for the
enlightenment of John. The seer was to be allowed no personal monopoly of its riches. The vision was for the whole Church. John was given it to transmit it to others. Write what you see in a book, he was told, and send it to the seven churches (v.11). This visionary manifestation of Christ was too much for John to endure It had been deafening to his ears and dazzling to his eyes. He fell at His feet as though dead (v.17). But Jesus laid His hand on John's shoulder and said to him reassuringly " fear not." Rising to his feet, John could now absorb the immediate message which Christ had to convey. The Lord affirmed His victory over death. Jesus commanded John to write in a book what he had seen and would yet see. (vv. 18,19). When John first turned around and saw the vision and saw the lampstands among which Christ stood, it was that his eyes fell on the lampstands (v. 12). He did not see a candelabrum consisting of one lampstand with seven branches, no doubt with a lighted lamp, and Christ among them in the midst. Jesus explained the seven lampstands stood for the seven churches, and the seven stars for the angels of the seven churches. So Christ's churches are meant to be light- bearers in the darkness of the world, you are the light of the world, He graciously gave His own title. " You are the light of the world," He said in the sermon on the mount, "... let your light... shine... " Jn. 8:12; Mt. 5:14, 16). If the stars are to shine and the lamps are to burn, they are to remain in Christ's hand and in Christ presence.
The average Christian fights shy of the " Book of Revelation." It seems to him well nigh incomprehensible. He is perhaps skeptical of some fanciful interpretations he has heard, and he cannot easily accustom himself to the book's bizarre imagery. to start reading the revelation is to step into a strange, un-familiar world of angels and demons, of lambs, lions, horses, and dragons. seal are broken, trumpets blown and the contents of seven bowls poured over the earth. Two particularly malicious bests appear, one emerging out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, and the other rising from the earth with a lamb's horns and a dragons voice. Their is thunder, lighting, hail fire smoke and blood. the whole book appears at first sight to contain a chaotic profusion of weird and mysterious visions.
But we can't leave the matter there. The book claims to be a divine revelation given by god to His servants (1:10). It promises at its beginning a special blessing to him who read it aloud in church and to those who listen (1:3), and it adds at the end a solemn warning to anyone who dares to tamper with its message, either by addition or by subtraction (22:18-19. Besides, this last book of the Bible has been cherished by Christ's church in every generation and has brought challenge and its comfort to thousands of Christian believers. We should therefore be foolish to neglect it. I am concerned here with the book's first three chapters and in particular with the second and third chapters which contain seven letters addressed by the ascended Christ to seven Asian churches. Chapter one is the introductory to the whole book, Indeed, some important clues to a right interpretation of the book are given us in the very first verse: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave them to show to His servants what soon must take place; and he made it known by sending His angel to His servant John. The first word in the Greek sentence is " apocalupsis," which (like its Latin equivalent, revelation) means an "unveiling". The whole book is a revelation, an unveiling by God's hand of truth's which otherwise would have remained hidden.
It would be helpful to begin with the simple observation that the revelation was made to the church. The "apocalypse" or "revelation" was given by God to his servants. They were its recipients. It was granted for their benefit. this being so, it is absurd to give up trying to understand it. We must persevere. Ostensibly the revelation which John was given and instructed to write in a book was intended for the seven churches that are in Asia (v. 4). A little later he names them . He is to send the book to Ephesus and to Smyrna, Pergamum and to Thyatira, Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea ( v.11). By " Asia" then is not the whole continent, nor even what we sometimes call "Asia" Minor, but the Roman Province of Asia which was located on the western seaboard of what we now know as turkey. The seven cities mentioned form an irregular circle, and are listed in the order in which a messenger might visit them if they were a mailman to deliver a letters.
Sailing from the Island of Patmos, to which John had been banished, he would arrive at Ephesus. He would then travel north to Smyrna and Pergamum, south-east to Thyatira Sardis and Philadelphia, and finish his journey at Laodicea. He would need only to keep to what professor William Ramsay called 'the great circular road that bound together the most populous, wealthy and influential part of the province, the west-central region. The historical context for the "Book of Revelation, however, cannot possibly be thought to exhaust its significance. Just as the letters of Paul to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians convey the word of God to us as well to them in London and New York and Cairo as well as Corinth and Thessalonica, so Christ's letters through John to the first century Christians communities of Asia have permanent value and a universal message. Get on board, before you die. Commentators have not failed to notice that the Asian churches numbered seven, a number indicating perfection and completeness in a book whose numerals are nearly always symbolical. The seven churches of Asia, though historical, represent the local churches of all ages and of all lands. The Christian society in the Roman province of Asia at that time was hard pressed. It is probable that the Revelation reflects the situation during the reign of the Emperor Domitian, who carried to its second stage the persecution of Christians begun twenty-five years previously by Nero. Nero's persecutions had been sporadic; Domitian's seem to have been more systematic, the effects of Nero's antagonism were felt in Rome only, while under Domitian, who was hungry for divine honors. Christians who worshipped the Lord Christ were being invited to worship Caesar. The hearts of Christians were filled with alarm. Could the Church survive the storm which seemed to be on the point of breaking. His empire is wider than the sway of Rome. Christ dominion is universal. The description of the lord's achievements past and future. He not only loves us; He not only freed us from our sins by His blood; and made His people a kingdom Just as God entered into a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and made them His people over whom He ruled. So Christ by his death has ratified a new covenant and inaugurated a new kingdom. The Christian Church is the new theocracy. Christ reigns over us. We are His Kingdom. Moreover, as in Old Israel, so in the new, the members of God's kingdom are "priests" offering him spiritual sacrifice of our worship. Let Christians lift up their heads! The day of redemption is drawing near. Such is the opening revelation of Jesus Christ in his titles and His deeds. It is the foretaste of the richer disclosures which follows.
John goes on to on to write how on a certain Sunday during his exile he was granted an ecstatic vision of Jesus. He describes the details of what he saw, and each part is meaningful. At the same time, it is important to remember that the imagery he uses is intended to be symbolical rather than pictorial. The various elements in the vision are significant symbols to be interpreted, rather then actual features to be imagined. For example, if John saw Jesus with a sharp two-edged sword issuing from His mouth, we are not so much to visualize this literally as to remember that the words speak are as a sharp and piercing as a sword. John's attention was drawn to the presence of Jesus by a loud voice behind him. Turning around, he saw seven golden lampstands and in the middle of them one like the son of man (vv. 12,13). that is to say, he saw a human figure, and yet the person he saw was more then a mere man. He was glorious and sublime. He was like the son of man in Daniels vision. he was in fact he glorified "man Christ Jesus". John at once notice his clothes, for He was invested with a long robe and a golden girdle of a priest or king or judge. His appearance was not only distinguished but venerable and holy for His hair was as white as wool or snow. His scrutiny was intense as His eyes flashed with the fire of judgement, and His feet were as strong as burnished
brass. His voice thundered like the breakers which dashed themselves against the rocky coast of Patmos., and His face was as radiant as the sun (vv. 13-15). The purpose of this vision was for the
enlightenment of John. The seer was to be allowed no personal monopoly of its riches. The vision was for the whole Church. John was given it to transmit it to others. Write what you see in a book, he was told, and send it to the seven churches (v.11). This visionary manifestation of Christ was too much for John to endure It had been deafening to his ears and dazzling to his eyes. He fell at His feet as though dead (v.17). But Jesus laid His hand on John's shoulder and said to him reassuringly " fear not." Rising to his feet, John could now absorb the immediate message which Christ had to convey. The Lord affirmed His victory over death. Jesus commanded John to write in a book what he had seen and would yet see. (vv. 18,19). When John first turned around and saw the vision and saw the lampstands among which Christ stood, it was that his eyes fell on the lampstands (v. 12). He did not see a candelabrum consisting of one lampstand with seven branches, no doubt with a lighted lamp, and Christ among them in the midst. Jesus explained the seven lampstands stood for the seven churches, and the seven stars for the angels of the seven churches. So Christ's churches are meant to be light- bearers in the darkness of the world, you are the light of the world, He graciously gave His own title. " You are the light of the world," He said in the sermon on the mount, "... let your light... shine... " Jn. 8:12; Mt. 5:14, 16). If the stars are to shine and the lamps are to burn, they are to remain in Christ's hand and in Christ presence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)